Primary Care in the United States: Past, Present and Future

Abstract

Even though a well-functioning primary care system is widely acknowledged as critical to population health, the number of primary care physicians practicing in the United States has steadily declined, and primary care physicians are in short supply. The reasons are multiple and include inadequate income relative to other specialties, excessive administrative demands on PCPs and the lack of respect given to primary care specialties during medical school and residency. Advanced practice nurses can augment the services of primary care physicians but cannot substitute for them.